asked the Minister for Communications if he will outline Ireland's participation in, and the benefits it has obtained from, the STAR programme whose purpose is to transfer telecommunications technology to noncentral European States; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - STAR Programme.
65.
The formal decision to give effect to the EC STAR programme has not yet been signed by the Commission and accordingly no benefits have so far been obtained by Ireland. The programme proposes to allocate 50 million ECUs to Ireland over a period of five years from 1987 to 1991. The prime aim of the programme is to foster the economic development of the least favoured regions of the Community by improving advanced telecommunications services in line with the Community's objectives in this field.
66.
asked the Minister for Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a British study The Reform of Social Security by Dilnot, Kay and Morris, published by the Institute of Fiscal Studies, page 44, estimated that the administrative cost of operating the means test for supplementary benefit was 10 pence for every pound paid out; the calculations, if any, he has done in respect of each of the means tested schemes or income thresholds operated by his Department or by agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department and the bodies under my aegis do not operate any schemes to which means testing or income thresholds apply.
67.
asked the Minister for Communications if he, or any body under his aegis, operates means tests or income thresholds for any purpose, for example tax exemption, eligibility for charge or benefit; in respect of such means test or income thresholds (a) the levels at which they operate and the period over which they are assessed; (b) if account is taken of the income of a spouse, and if so, the way in which this has been done; (c) if account is taken of the income of other household members; and if so, the way in which this has been done; (d) if account is taken of the costs of maintaining dependent children or other dependants; (e) if any income for example social welfare payments, or the imputed value of home ownership is ignored or discounted in any way; (f) if the value of property, real or personal, is included and if so, the basis on which it is included; (g) when the levels were last revised in line with inflation; and (h) if there is a distinction in the way the means test operates between a couple who are married and a couple living together but not married.
My Department and the bodies under my aegis do not apply any means tests or income thresholds for any purpose.